separate the sheep from the goats

Idioms  

1. Distinguish between good and bad individuals, or superior and inferior ones. For example, In a civil war where both sides commit atrocities, you can't separate the sheep from the goats. This term refers to Jesus's prophecy in the New Testament (Matthew 25:32) that the sheep (that is, the compassionate) will sit on God's right hand (and find salvation), and the goats (the hard-hearted) will sit on the left (and be sent to damnation).

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Example Sentences

One woman mentioned Jesus’ promise to separate the sheep from the goats on the Last Judgment.

From Los Angeles Times

“This will separate the sheep from the goats,” he said.

From Washington Times

As colleges cut spending - as they must - how they do that will separate the sheep from the goats.

From Washington Times

But DeWitt’s draft report said the reason for the relocations was “not that there was insufficient time,” but that Japanese cultural traits made it “impossible to separate the sheep from the goats” and distinguish who could be trusted.

From Los Angeles Times

“Why not sit down informally with us and try to separate the sheep from the goats first,” he wrote.

From Washington Post